​​IRVING – Irving's long-awaited convention center hotel is underway, marking the major step forward in making the project a reality in 2018.

The 12-story, 350-room hotel, to be called the Westin Irving Convention Center at Las Colinas headquarters hotel, will become part of a three-part destination in Irving, which will include the Irving Convention Center and the Irving Music Factory.

The hotel will complement the five-year-old convention center, which averages 305 events per year. It will also bring about 16,000 sf of additional meeting space to Irving.

The City of Irving provided $22.5 million in bond proceeds for the construction of the city-owned public meeting facilities.

The city is also chipping in $13.7 million for a second public parking garage totaling 840 spaces.